The Pros and Cons of Combining Cannabis and Sex

Know the best and the worst effects of combining cannabis with pleasure.

Normally, individuals that smoke marijuana claim that everything tastes, smells and feels that much better when you’re high. This isn’t always the case though. When it comes to mixing cannabis and sex, although some claim that it’s the best experience they’ve ever had—others find it to be the sloppiest.

What’s more important is that many of them used the term “science” when describing the experience. Of course, we needed to dive into the issue to see what kind of science (if any) is this controversial cannabis combination.

Here's what we found:

Pros

Increased Desire

A 1984 study cited by Psychology Daily found users to have an increased libido after smoking marijuana. While the study may be outdated, users still claim to have increased sexual desires when under the influence of the flower. This is due to an endless possibility of variables that still need to be scientifically proven, but delving into claim after claim, we believe using marijuana pre-foreplay does make you more aroused.

Increased Sensitivity

When it comes to marijuana, the topic of heightened senses is one of the most addressed. Users frequently claim that sex feels better when they’re high. This study shows that users feel more relaxed, euphoric and emotional—all good things in the bedroom. If you think about sex in terms of a massage, you're more likely to enjoy and benefit from it if you are completely relaxed. If you're tense, the likelihood of it feeling good is slim to none.

There’s even a cannabis infused lubricant called Foria that claims to make sex more pleasurable for women in the form of extremely long and intense orgasms. Their testimonials seem to back up the hype too, having users discuss their unbelievable experiences, but this first-hand experience really drives the message home.

Time Slows Down

In the same study cited above, the cannabis users claimed that their perception of time was stretched. This is good news for both parties involved! If sex doesn’t last as long as you’d hope, it’ll probably feel like it’s minutes (if not hours) longer. While that not may sound like much, it could make all the difference.

Intense Orgasms

Directly related to both increased sensitivity and the perception of time, intense orgasms are often related to consuming some herb pre-coitus. In an interview with NYM8ag, a user under the pseudonym Elizabeth claimed that “orgasms seem to last for 30 seconds and are incredibly intense. The best orgasms I’ve ever had have been while stoned, whether with another person or solo.” Really, that speaks for itself.

Cons

Dose-Effect

The American Academy of Neurology conducted a study looking at the effects of marijuana related to dosage. Unsurprisingly, the more you smoked the worse (or better depending on your end goal) the effects. In relation to sex, this means if you smoke too much you won’t be getting any. You’ll be too high to do much of anything let alone trying to pleasure yourself or your partner. The challenge with marijuana and sex—unless you’re a veteran user who knows the effects of the strain—you won’t know if you had too much until it’s too late.

Lower Sperm Count

If you’re trying to get pregnant, marijuana is not your friend, though this does not mean it’s a great form of birth control. Rather, smoking marijuana will lower the chances of a man impregnating a woman because of its effect on sperm production.

Vaginal Dryness

According to Dr. Julie Holland in an interview with Vice, smoking cannabis can lead to vaginal dryness. This is due to the drying of mucous membranes, so it is exactly like cotton mouth, except it’s down there. And if we know one thing, it's that that's not going to set the mood. Not at all.

High-Risk Behavior

Any sort of mind-altering substance can make you careless. A study found that when under the influence, whether it be from alcohol or marijuana, users make poor decisions which make them more susceptible to contracting an STI. If you’re too high to inquire about the other party being tested or think you will forget to use protection, you should probably skip the sex. Of course, if you know your partner's history, you're probably safe, but it's something to keep in mind.

Bottom Line

Marijuana’s effects are unique to every individual. While some claim that sex under the influence is not for them, many note that a pre-sex sesh can do wonders for libido and really make magic happen in the bedroom—so much so that the results are mind-blowing. If you're going to experiment just remember what Oscar Wilde said: “Everything is good in moderation, including moderation.”

published on January 5, 2016

MERRY JANE Staff

MERRY JANE is based in Los Angeles, California and is dedicated to elevating the discussion around cannabis culture.